It could be said that the Librarian was very much a homebody. She didn’t mind her travels or the outdoors, but she’d always been much more comfortable curled up in her library, or any hall of books, with Sonia at her side. But if there was one place she loved more than anything, one town over all the rest, it was Oshkosh. She had no idea what it had been before, but as she knew it, it was the greatest place on earth.
While so many cities around the world had fallen, resorting to barbaric ways of living and the ignorance and hateful mistrust that came with it, Oshkosh was the one town that shone brightly as a beacon of hope. It was the land of the Dreamers, the birthplace of the new Steam technology. Here, brave and brilliant men and women had risen from the dirt and debris to create a new, cleaner, brighter way of living. The entire town was steam powered: the cars, the appliances, and countless new inventions all functioned in complex and unique ways. The city was organized, clean and the people smart and cultured. she’d been here countless times in her dealings with the Lorekeepers, as they had formed a powerful alliance. Oshkosh was the only major civilization that had adopted the Lorekeeper ways. If Oshkosh could fight back against the Crawleys- if Oshkosh could work, then there was hope.
So even though their journey had been arduous and full of incident, it did not inhibit her enjoyment of the town. First on their list was to get Arabella to an actual doctor. It was still a miracle the poor woman was alive. After that they explored a bit. The weather was in late fall. The few trees there produced a colorful filter from the sun that fell on the busy marketplace streets. Here people didn’t scavenge or consort. They traded ideas and information while examining the newest in Steam technology. They bulked up on some rations and supplies and regrouped at the makeshift hospital tent. From there they picked up a still woozy Arabella, who despite speaking of dog doctors and ranting wildly, the doctors insisted she would be ok.
However even when the party had reached the town’s cafeteria, Arabella was still wild and shouting various concerns. The Librarian was beginning to form a combination of concern and annoyance for her newfound friend. The woman was clearly in danger of causing a scene but also spoke of some genuine concerns.
“Im telling you guys, we gotta get out of here!” She wildly shrieked, attracting the attention of some nearby patrons. “There are trail viners here, and they are looking for us!”
“Keep you voice down!” Miles exclaimed, just as loud, attracting just as much attention. “We’ll get out soon.”
Alice and The Librarian both tried to quiet the pair as now they were both shouting and would not stop. It was humiliating on top of being worrisome. If Arabella was right, they needed to leave, and now.
Suddenly a deep male voice sounded behind them, “You bunch, the guards want you to follow them to HQ, for questioning.”
From there Miles made more foolish, dangerous, yet ultimately empty threats, until the Librarian silenced him, cutting him off and agreeing to the situation. They went up to the guards and followed them out. The men led them through the town and to the main bulding where all the head Dreamers governed. The group entered an interrogation room and sat down. The Librarian and Alice were not concerned their connections with the Lorekeepers and Dreamers kept them safe, but Miles and Arabella showed less calm. Miles, proved himself the hothead he was, turning on the already fraying Arabella. Arabella herself might as well be six feet under. She was sweating bullets, murmuring to herself by the time the interrogator came in.
He was, of course, very polite. “Listen,” he said, “We are in a difficult situation. From what we understand there’s been a grave occurance between our Trailviner friends and the Crawleys. We are looking for some specific individuals who may have caused this. We aren’t saying we want blood, but we do need to know more to properly understand the situation.”
This was of course all very agreeable, but before The Librarian could even consider his words, Arabella spat out her own.
“You can’t let them take me!” She screamed. “The Crawleys! They’ll kill me for being a deserter!!!!” She spilled her guts out about the whole thing, and there, left the truth.
Rightfully incensed, but unjustifiably stupid, Miles boldly shared more threatening dialogue with the shocked interrogator as the Librarian and Alice sat in silent shock. Any kinship she felt for Arabella had melted away. Not only was she a crawley and a liar, but she’d been willing t put them all in danger just so she could have enough money to pay off a gun. After all the Librarian, Alice, and even Miles had sacrificed to keep her safe and well, this was the truth.
Coldly the Librarian interrupted Miles’ ravings and spoke quietly. “Sir, Me and the small girl next to me work frequently with your town through the Lorekeepers, I know your leader well. We joined this party, with these two strangers, in order to find some stolen objects, a gun and compass, that were taken from Alice and I. As far as I know these two were brought on by the cash reward offered for the finding of the thief, Hanna. This entire tragedy has nothing to do with Alice or I, but I cannot speak for these two. The woman is very ill and deluded from head injuries, she may be delirious or telling the truth. It is up to you to decide how to procede from here, all I ask is that you consider our alliance and take into account our good relationship.
The man nodded and said, “ok. Wait in here” Then he left to decide their fate.
While so many cities around the world had fallen, resorting to barbaric ways of living and the ignorance and hateful mistrust that came with it, Oshkosh was the one town that shone brightly as a beacon of hope. It was the land of the Dreamers, the birthplace of the new Steam technology. Here, brave and brilliant men and women had risen from the dirt and debris to create a new, cleaner, brighter way of living. The entire town was steam powered: the cars, the appliances, and countless new inventions all functioned in complex and unique ways. The city was organized, clean and the people smart and cultured. she’d been here countless times in her dealings with the Lorekeepers, as they had formed a powerful alliance. Oshkosh was the only major civilization that had adopted the Lorekeeper ways. If Oshkosh could fight back against the Crawleys- if Oshkosh could work, then there was hope.
So even though their journey had been arduous and full of incident, it did not inhibit her enjoyment of the town. First on their list was to get Arabella to an actual doctor. It was still a miracle the poor woman was alive. After that they explored a bit. The weather was in late fall. The few trees there produced a colorful filter from the sun that fell on the busy marketplace streets. Here people didn’t scavenge or consort. They traded ideas and information while examining the newest in Steam technology. They bulked up on some rations and supplies and regrouped at the makeshift hospital tent. From there they picked up a still woozy Arabella, who despite speaking of dog doctors and ranting wildly, the doctors insisted she would be ok.
However even when the party had reached the town’s cafeteria, Arabella was still wild and shouting various concerns. The Librarian was beginning to form a combination of concern and annoyance for her newfound friend. The woman was clearly in danger of causing a scene but also spoke of some genuine concerns.
“Im telling you guys, we gotta get out of here!” She wildly shrieked, attracting the attention of some nearby patrons. “There are trail viners here, and they are looking for us!”
“Keep you voice down!” Miles exclaimed, just as loud, attracting just as much attention. “We’ll get out soon.”
Alice and The Librarian both tried to quiet the pair as now they were both shouting and would not stop. It was humiliating on top of being worrisome. If Arabella was right, they needed to leave, and now.
Suddenly a deep male voice sounded behind them, “You bunch, the guards want you to follow them to HQ, for questioning.”
From there Miles made more foolish, dangerous, yet ultimately empty threats, until the Librarian silenced him, cutting him off and agreeing to the situation. They went up to the guards and followed them out. The men led them through the town and to the main bulding where all the head Dreamers governed. The group entered an interrogation room and sat down. The Librarian and Alice were not concerned their connections with the Lorekeepers and Dreamers kept them safe, but Miles and Arabella showed less calm. Miles, proved himself the hothead he was, turning on the already fraying Arabella. Arabella herself might as well be six feet under. She was sweating bullets, murmuring to herself by the time the interrogator came in.
He was, of course, very polite. “Listen,” he said, “We are in a difficult situation. From what we understand there’s been a grave occurance between our Trailviner friends and the Crawleys. We are looking for some specific individuals who may have caused this. We aren’t saying we want blood, but we do need to know more to properly understand the situation.”
This was of course all very agreeable, but before The Librarian could even consider his words, Arabella spat out her own.
“You can’t let them take me!” She screamed. “The Crawleys! They’ll kill me for being a deserter!!!!” She spilled her guts out about the whole thing, and there, left the truth.
Rightfully incensed, but unjustifiably stupid, Miles boldly shared more threatening dialogue with the shocked interrogator as the Librarian and Alice sat in silent shock. Any kinship she felt for Arabella had melted away. Not only was she a crawley and a liar, but she’d been willing t put them all in danger just so she could have enough money to pay off a gun. After all the Librarian, Alice, and even Miles had sacrificed to keep her safe and well, this was the truth.
Coldly the Librarian interrupted Miles’ ravings and spoke quietly. “Sir, Me and the small girl next to me work frequently with your town through the Lorekeepers, I know your leader well. We joined this party, with these two strangers, in order to find some stolen objects, a gun and compass, that were taken from Alice and I. As far as I know these two were brought on by the cash reward offered for the finding of the thief, Hanna. This entire tragedy has nothing to do with Alice or I, but I cannot speak for these two. The woman is very ill and deluded from head injuries, she may be delirious or telling the truth. It is up to you to decide how to procede from here, all I ask is that you consider our alliance and take into account our good relationship.
The man nodded and said, “ok. Wait in here” Then he left to decide their fate.